Rocker support device and the like



H. MCCLELLAN 2,893,471 ROCKER SUPPORT DEVICE AND THE LIKE Filed May 195s United States Patent fiFice 2,893,471 Patented July 7, 1959 ROCKER SUPPORT DEVICE AND THE LIKE Howard McClellan, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 9, 1956, Serial No. 583,707

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-56) The instant invention relates to rocker devices. More particularly, it relates to body supports, such as seats and the like, that are supported for a rocking action. Specifically, the invention relates to a spring-type, rockable body support, such as a chair and the like, which is suspended and supported for rocking in a vertical and horizontal plane.

Although reference herein is had to a chair particularly adapted for use by young children, it will be appreciated that the features of the invention are not limited to use in childrens chairs.

It has been observed that available rocker devices having or relying on spring means to effectuate the desired movement of the body support comprise a combination of parts, including a spring which is adapted to provide movement in a particular plane so that principally the rocking movement is in either a vertical or in a hori zontal plane. Accordingly, in order to effectuate the max imum ride with a minimum of energy output on the part of the user, a substantial degree of muscular coordination is required. Consequently, exceedingly small children and other persons who do not have the developed muscular control cannot easily obtain maximum ride effect without expending substantial wasted energy.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide a rocking seat or rocking body support which will translate into maximum rocking movement energy that is haphazardly applied against the seat, for example: by the uncontrolled kicking feet of an infant.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a device of the described class in which a force applied against the seat will result in maximum rocking movement regardless of the direction of the force vector.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rocking support comprising a combination of parts which are well balanced in order to preclude tipping of the device.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable foot-rest kick-plate adapted to vary the distance between the body support member and the kickplate.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a rocking chair and the like comprising a seat member suspended between a pair of pivoted arms and on a pair of coil springs, each of which is secured to a base, whereby movement of the body support member may be achieved simultaneously in a vertical and horizontal plane.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and numerals of reference thereon.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the instant invention, parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration. 7

, Fig.2 is a top plan of the device illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a fragment of the frame of the side of the seat in elevation and illustrating the mechanism by which the tray is removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view looking at the top of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an open-ended U-shaped frame 10 provides the base of the device. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, downwardly bent legs 11, shown integral with frame 10, provide the rear stand or support of the device. The frame 10 is of tubular construction. However, it will be apparent that such tubular construction is not critical insofar as the invention is concerned.

The front stand or support is provided by a pair of opposed horizontally aligned bracket members 12 on the lower portion 14 of each of which a wheel 13 is rotatably mounted, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. An elongated and enlarged medially disposed boot abutment forms or comprises the foot-rest or kick-plate 15. The kick-plate 15 is suitably rigidly secured at the opposite ends thereof to opposed bracket extensions 16, only one of which is illustrated in the drawings, in Fig. l, by suitable fastening means, not shown, whereby said brackets 12 are tied.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, each of the brackets 12 includes an arcuately shaped forward supporting arm 17 having a plurality of preferably equally-spaced apertures 18. Each bracket 12 also includes an upwardly and angularly extending rear arm 19 which is pivotally connected to its respective frame side element or leg 20 by means of a pivot pin 21.

By means of a suitable fastener 22 such as a wing bolt and nut, each arcuately shaped arm 17 is releasably secured to its respective frame side element or leg 20. Thereby, adjustment of the kick-plate 15 is achieved by releasing the fasteners 22 and moving the tied brackets 12 to the desired position and resecuring the fasteners 22. The foregoing accommodation permits appropriate spacing of the kick-plate 15 from the body support member 23 so that the device may be employed by persons of varying leg lengths.

The body support 23 in the embodiment illustrated herein is a seat or chair-like element which is suspended for a rocking motion or oscillation above the frame 10. The support member 23, herein illustrated, comprises a back rest 24 and a bottom rest 25. The said body support 23 has a pair of rigid side frames or members 26, each of which is shown as being of tubular construction and which are mounted in opposed positions on opposite sides of the support 23, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end 27 of each side member is suitably secured to the bottom rest 25 by means of a suitable fastener 28. A pair of opposed brackets, generally designated by the numeral 30, are rigidly secured on opposite sides of the back rest 24 by suitable fasteners about midway between the ends of said back rest 24, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of the brackets 30 comprises an encircling or enclosing portion 31 and a flat portion 32. The upper end extensions 29 of said side members 26 extend through the encircling portions 31, respectively, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, whereby said extensions 29 are supported and operably connected to the back rest 24.

A transversely extending tie 34 has opposed portions thereof secured to aligned medial portions of opposed frame legs 20 by means of securing elements 33 as illustrated in Fig. 2. The tie 34 has a pair of opposed rearwardly extending, inwardly offset ends 35 that are disposed inwardly of the legs 20. The ends 35 each provide a lower anchor for one of a pair of opposed springs 36 the lower ends of which are snugly mounted about said ends 35, respectively. The opposite and upper ends of said springs 36 are snugly mounted about the upper end extensions 29 of the frame members 26, respectively.

-As eclearly illustrated .in Big. .2, the anchor elements 35 are disposed outwardly or laterally of the extensions 29 respectively so that when 'the springs 36 are mounted, as illustrated in the "drawings, '2 they 1- are disposed angularly, diverging-inwardly from the? bottom thereof.

Each :of thesei'springs -36 :iszpreferably :a coil spring, and it is suggested that the same be of the compression type. su'chwonstruction=will;preclude squeaking of the springsnluring.useiofthe deviceas wouldzbe encountered if rextensiomtype springs are employed. vAdditionally,-it isurelated :that the :springs :36 each have a r U =shaped configuration .beingibent from arstraight coilform. T hereby, 2a weightresistant effect is brought to .bear on the bodyrsupport 23. .-Also,.'it'willbe seen-that-theclosed curved portions 45 of the springs 36 extendmearwardly of the'sbodyisupportr23eand that the springss36rsupport the .body support 231m a point rearwardofrits normal center-sot gravity.

tArpair of opposed, 'rigid,.pivoted, .angularly-idisposed rods or 1 arms 37 support the body support =23 at opposite sides "thereof forward of its normal center of gravity. The rods-'37 each are;pivoted to a respective side :fram'e rnember 26by means'of a pivot pin 38; and eachvofsaidirods is pivotally-secured toa respective leg 20 -for rocking'move'ment by means of a pivot pin 39. As illu'strated-in the-drawings, the'lower-ends of arms '37 -:are ipositioned :forward of the upper ends :thereof when the :deviceis not in :use; and-said rodsconverge inwardly. fromibase 20.

:Because ofthe foregoing construction, the bodysupport 23 is supported :from forward .of its :normal' center of gravity by the rigid rods or arms 37. The upper end portion .ofeeach of the springs =36 will .beforced toward the opposite end Jportionthereof :under the normal=weight of the-user.

iIt is apparentfrom the-foregoing that when used in its :obvious fmannera rocking motion will be imparted in the-body supportwhich will comprise a plurality of motion components, includingimotion in-a verticaLplane and motion in a horizontalplane, or a combination of .the'two. As the body upport moves back and forth, when the device is in use, an oscillating or'wave of motion willrbe setpp inlthe springs 36 and the body support .23 will :rock back a-ndiorth about'anaxis definedrby the parallel pivots -39. Pivoting' action of body {support 723 about .anfaxis defined by pins 38 will also be experienced.

-'Altl1ough. it is not my'intentionto be limited to the specific design "of f the body .support insofar as *no'n-essential details are concerned, in the embodiment shown, thedevice is ladapted for use by young children. 'Acrcordingly,'a tray 40 is mounted on the side members 26. To achieve the mounting of the tray-Ethan op- .posed pair of-arms 41, each having a compression'type spring .component-zat its outer end, are secured at ihB=L1tI-61'1ds-.ih6f0f tonsaid tray-40. T o'. mount itray 40,:the inner-spring end 42 of each of said arms 41.is inserted througharslot 43 .of its respectiveiside support -26, as illustrated in Figs. --3 and 4, the springs 42 se- =curing the arms 41 in-the side'members 26, respectively. .To'release'the tray 40 from its retained position, springs "42are'manuallycompressed by engagingthe springs '42 with the hands through appertures 44 in the opposite side members. Of course, the springs are thereby com- ,pressed permitting the tray to .be withdrawn.

While athe particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings:isfonanamusement chair for children, it is evident that with slight modification within the sscope 0f -.the invention :a mocking. horse or other animal could :bef'provided; and that the principles attendantinrthe instant 'zdisclosure-arer readily adaptableiforlincorporation chairs .for' use by "adults.

' Inasmuch ias many-rchangesean bemadezin the foregoing cconstruction, *and inasmuch as '-"rnany variations therein could be ,proposed without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter contained herein shall be considered as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A rocking support and the like, comprising a frame, a rigid rockable means-pivoted to said frame; a body support pivotally connected to said rigid rockable means; a rearwardly .curved ccoil-Jsprihg :undercontinuom tension secured to said frameand said bodysupport and supporting said "body support'in positions opposed to said rockable means, :coils of said spring beingisuccessively compressible longitudinally of said frame.

2. A rocking supporta'ud'tltelike, comprising a pair of opposed coil springs under tension, said springs being disposed in inwardly tapering angulation; a body support connected from one end portion thereof to said :springspamair of :opposed i-pivotable members operably connected from :thezother; endportion of said fbo'dy E support to:said-body:support' andadapted to permitipivoting thereof, andea .base below said body support, said springs operably connected '-to said base, said pivotable members pivoted to :said .base andi-anchoring .said body support whereby tension is maintained on said springs.

3. In a rockings support and the -likc,the combination with a rockable seatfiand =-a.=framef on which saidhseatis rockably-supportediby aipair of compression coilrsprings bent under tension, the opposite "CIIdSOf Said springs connected to-said1fraime and said .seat,f said springs being disposed in :upwardly'and rearwardl-yfliverging planes, and seat anchoringmeans,pivotally.-isecured1tmeach'said .seat and frame :and Zholdingsaid :springs Lunder tension.

"4. .A rocking :support and ithe. like, substantially .as defined :in claim .3 wherein said seat anchoring .means .comprisetapair -.of opposed rigidarms pivotallyconnected .to said seat and ,pivotally connected to said .fr-arneat opposite sides of each thereof.

'5. A rocking-support and the :like,,substantially as defined inclaim -4 wherein .saidrigidrarms diverge .in- 'wardly from the bottoms :thereof and.normally:extend backwardly fromthe b'ottoms thereof when-the support is not in use.

6. A rocker and the like, comprising a frameya ,pair ofopposed-brackets adjustably'and.pivotally secured on said Tframeand having-.arcuately extending arms, :said arms having a plurality of apertures;fastening-.means releasably securing. said arcuatelyextending .arms to .said frame; aakick-plateasecured vto said-brackets; arocking seat memberbperably connected to .and supported .by said frame; rocker arm means-at opposite .endsthereo f pivoted to-each said frame and -seat member, and tension bent compression .springs connected to said seat member and: said .frame in positions :opposed from said rocker arm means.

-7. A rockingseat andthe like, .comprisinga body support member; spring means under-continuous 'downward tension and including. longitudinally bent. coilssupportingly connected to the back end portion of said body support :member and supporting said body support member from behind; rocker arm meanspivotally connectedto the front .end portion of saidbody support member and anchoring said body support member against the action of said spring, and a frame, said spring means androcker .arm means connected to said "frame with said coils. successively compressible longitudinallyof' said "frame.

iReferences Cited in theffile ofthispatent UNITED STATES TATENTS 

